Hybrids

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: as automotive manufacturers intensify their focus on small vehicle production, consumers express desire for advancements in alternative powertrain technology.Read more...

Although the idea behind hybrid vehicles is essentially the same, all hybrids are definitely not created equal. In his recent article for the Detroit News, auto critic Scott Burgess examines what he considers the best and the worst of this...

Important acronyms:ICE: Internal Combustion Engine - The standard drive train of cars way back in the 20th Century.PHEV: Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle - A car or truck with an ICE and a battery pack that can be charged straight from a typical electrical outlet.VVT: Variable Valve Timing - A system which allows an ICE to open and close cylinder valves with at least some degree of independence from cranksh

Mercedes To Introduce Cleanest Diesel SUV In The U.S. Mercedes-Benz has announced it is ready to introduce the R, ML and GL 320 SUVs equipped with Mercedes’ BlueTEC technology in the U.S. The company says that the vehicles are the most economical full-size SUV in the U.S. - the GL 320, gets 25 mpg, the company says. Daimler is also introducing its “Blue Efficiency” initia

Since it is pretty much a given that hybrids will be popping up in higher numbers on our roads, many are starting to question the safety of the cars in relation to blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Some argue the...

When you think of hybrid you think of a car that is extremely slow and economical. Well times have changed, a new generation of sporty hybrids is in the works and ought to give the segment an image... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Toyota is struggling to keep up with booming demand for hybrid vehicles because it is unable to make enough batteries that are key components of the popular “green” cars, a senior executive said Monday. The battery crunch is likely to continue for the rest of the year, since new lines cannot be added to increase production until 2009, said Takeshi Uchiyamada, executive vice president

The largest car and truck auction yard in the Northwest sits just on the south side of the Yellowstone River near Billings. If you’re looking to see how $4-a-gallon gas is putting the hurt on Montana, this is a good place to start. Big, gas-guzzling SUVs are sitting around for weeks, said Jake Gertsch, a salesman there at the Auto Auction of Montana. Cars are in short supply and they cost more.

Think buying a hybrid car is out of your price range? The Yahoo Green weblog says it’s time you rethink the cost of hybrids, comparing the cost to own a Prius versus two non-hybrid cars—a Honda Accord and Civic—over the course of three years. Estimating the purchase price and Blue Book value over time, along [...]

Thirty miles per gallon. That benchmark is emerging as the defining criteria for motorists who are hoping to find relief from steadily rising gas prices. It’s more important than style, color or power. “It’s definitely changing,” said Drew Koehnke, sales manager for Power Auto Center in Corvallis, who carries Buick, Pontiac and Cadillac autos. “Now people come in and ask what we’ve got

Filed under: Transportation While some automakers are already promising to have plug-in hyrbids on the road by 2010, the US Department of Energy is now pouring some cash into a slightly less ambitious joint effort with Ford, General Motors, and General Electric, which would see plug-ins capable of driving 40 miles on a single charge roll [...]

Filed under: Transportation While some automakers are already promising to have plug-in hyrbids on the road by 2010, the US Department of Energy is now pouring some cash into a slightly less ambitious joint effort with Ford, General Motors, and General Electric, which would see plug-ins capable of driving 40 miles on a single charge roll [...]

Toyota to Produce Camry hybrids in AustraliaToyota will start making the Camry petro-electric hybrid in Australia from early 2010, as part of the Japanese automaker’s efforts to step up production of such green cars around the world, the company said.Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said his government will provide Toyota$33million from a fund for ecological cars to cover costs such as those

In these days of nearly nonexistent profits for every one of Detroit's Big Three automakers, R&D funds must be allocated very carefully. In contrast, Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda have been earning profits on a yearly basis. Not long ago, a mild spat arose regarding whether or not the Japanese government helped fund the development of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive. Even if th

Transmission technology specialist Xtrac says the flywheel kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) currently being developed for Formula One could be applied to road vehicles in a number of ways. “By providing an additional boost of power, the F1 technology is particularly relevant to the trend to fit cars with smaller engines in pursuit of better fuel [...]

Total reported hybrid sales in the US. Click to enlarge. Reported US sales of hybrids in May 2008 declined 20% from May 2007 to 35,943 units. This drop is largely, but not solely, due to a 37% drop in sales of the Prius to 15,011 units in May 2008 from 24,009 units in May 2007. Toyota characterized the decline as due to "limited availability". The May 2008 figures also in

First GM Hybrids in Dubai - General Motors today delivered its first hybrid vehicles in the Middle East to the Government of Dubai and the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The vehicles, which include the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid and the Chevrolet Malibu hybrid, are part of a ground-breaking project that involves a 12-month trial using the vehicles as public taxis that could eventually lead

Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid and the Chevrolet Malibu hybrid are part of a ground-breaking project that involves a 12-month trial using the vehicles as public taxis that could eventually lead to one of the largest hybrid fleets in the world.Read more...

Lexus corporate has recently supplied the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) with four Lexus RX 400h vehicles helping to raise awareness of the hybrid range among its players. The four players who will be using the hybrids are; Gareth Bale Tottenham Hotspur, Craig Gardiner Aston Villa, Micah Richards Manchester City and David Wheater Middlesbrough. All have [...]

E&ETV's "OnPoint" hosts a discussion with George Kerchner who is the executive director of the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association. Mr. Kerchner discusses the need for policy development to make electric vehicles more viable and the influences that electric vehicles will have on the grid. Go here to see the video.

Toyota's plans to run a Prius on Lithium-ion batteries have hit a roadblock. Launch of the new Toyota Prius that was to run on Lithium-ion batteries has been pushed back to 2011, instead of the previously planned 2008 models year.Toyota had to take this decision due to potential safety problems with its Lithium-ion cells. Panasonic EV Energy had provided the Li-ion batteries for Toyota; the same c

BY ALISA PRIDDLE Three new hybrids alongside the Civic hybrid will bring total to half a million per year for Honda. Honda plans to sell half a million hybrids per year globally with three new vehicles supplementing the Honda Civic hybrid in its lineup. The automaker’s hybrid strategy includes a hybrid version of the Honda Fit, production of [...]

Honda plans to sell half a million hybrids per year globally with three new vehicles supplementing the Honda Civic hybrid in its lineup. The automaker’s hybrid strategy includes a hybrid version of the Honda Fit, production of the CR-Z hybrid sports car concept, and an all-new, small five-door hatchback hybrid, CEO Takeo Fukui announced during his mid-year address in Tokyo. First up will be the

Honda today announced additional details regarding its new small hybrid scheduled for introduction in early 2009, as part of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO Takeo Fukui’s mid-year address. An official name and full product details will be announced later this year. In addition to weight reduction, a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) components [...]

Honda’s clean-diesel technology will come to the U.S. in the ‘09 Accord, plus we get the scoop on other Honda tech. From the Tokyo auto show comes confirmation that Honda’s 2.2-liter diesel engine will come to the U.S. installed in the 2009 Accord. The aluminum engine is fairly conventional in that it has a balance shaft, dual overhead cams, and high fuel pressure. The redline should be around 4500 rpm; that’s where the Euro-spec diesel Accord we drove topped out. Power and boost levels have not been specified yet, but we can expect at least 150 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Honda engineers say the diesel is about 44 pounds heavier than a similar gas engine, but they wouldn’t confirm the actual weight of either. One interesting tidbit is the cast st

Kayla is a such a sweet dog I often chuckle at how she came into my life, and about the wolf-hybrid horror stories that circulate. She’s a registered wolf hybrid from a breeder in Ocala, Florida. When she was abandoned in Whitehorse, I took her in with the understanding that it would be short-term until I [...]

REMEMBER WHEN POWER LINES CAUSED CANCER? EMF stopped causing cancer in 1997, but no one bothered to tell Jim  Motavalli, who wrote an Automobile column in the Sunday New York Times about the risks of EMF in hybrids.  According to Motavalli the National Cancer Institute studied the cancer risks associated with electromagnetic fields.  And so it did - but it couldn't find any.  You might think Motavalli would at least check the Archives of the New York Times.  On July 3, 1997, the day the massive four-year NCI study of power lines and cancer appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Gina Kolata reported in the Times that the study was unambiguous and found no health effects associated with electromagnetic fields.  An editorial in the same

In recent years, New York City has been trying to phase out its fleet of taxis to make room for hybrids and other more efficient vehicles. But did you know the Ford Escape hybrids outnumber the other eco-friendly taxis by hundreds? Right now, there are about 850 Ford Escape hybrid taxis transporting people all over the city while [...]

After adopting the "no replacement for displacement" mantra and swapping out its 5.5-liter supercharged engines for normally-aspirated 6.2-liter units, AMG might once again be reconsidering its options. According to a recent report by U.K.-based Car, AMG could be contemplating a return to forced induction, using 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8s that could produce in the neighborhood of 570 horses and 665 lb-ft of torque. Not enough? A full 700 horsepower and 885 lb-ft could be available in an even more potent version. What's the reason for the switch? Reportedly, AMG isn't content with the emissions and fuel economy of its latest engines, leading them to develop more environmentally responsible powertrains (if you can call any 700 horsepower engine environmentally responsibl

Wow... it's almost been a week since we last updated the site. We're not slacking... we've just been a bit busy. I had the honor of making Miss ShanksAlot (I guess that's Mrs. now) my new wife on Saturday... and SirPutts had the honor of drinking as much as he wanted at our open bar. Thanks to everyone for making our wedding a special one. We're back and ready to roll so let's get to it!

Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.’s Elantra liquefied-petroleum-gas electric hybrid will roll off the production line next summer, several months ahead of the previously planned launch due to a top management directive, a company executive says. “We’ve put about 100 LPG Hybrid Elantras through performance tests so far, after beginning the hybrid program in 2002,” Lee Ki-sang, director [...]

The Human Fertalisation and Embryology Bill has caused more than a stir in the UK, and I understand why. The US has not been exempt from stem cell issues. In fact, George W. Bush vetoed the House/Senate passed embryonic stem cell bill. Bush was in favor of stem cell research so long as the research did not utilize fertilized human eggs.But the Human Fertalisation and Embryology Bill that has bounced around Parliament (and I believed was approved last September) has the controversial edge, hands down. Under the bill, Scientists are enable to create human/animal hybrids. Simply put, the process involves taking an animal egg, removing nearly all the genetic material, and replacing it with DNA from a human cell. The new embryo, referred to as admixed, is reportedly 99% human. The embryo

Gas prices have skyrocketed over the course of the last few years. Due to these incredibly high prices, many people are purchasing hybrid cars. A vehicle is considered a hybrid when it combines power sources to increase performance capabilities. In the case of most current hybrid automobiles, the cars are powered by both gasoline and an electric motor. There are two types of hybrid cars. One type is a parallel hybrid. In this type of vehicle, both the gasoline portion of the engine and the electric motor are connected to the transmission of the car. This means the car is able to run off of either power source. Another type of hybrid vehicle is the series hybrid. In this type of automobile, the gas powered engine runs a generator. The generator powers the electric motor. The electric motor

Have you ever seen the show Beach Patrol? If not, it’s a reality TV show that’s much like Cops. But this show follows the lifeguards and security guards that patrol the beaches of Miami and other coastal cities. Now, some of those people who safeguard the beaches will be getting some new hybrid SUVs as a donation [...]

A few years ago a report titled the 'Dust to Dust' report claimed that the total environmental footprint of a Hummer SUV was less than that of a Toyota Prius. If you want to read the entire 458 page report you can download the PDF here, but the synopsis of the report basically puts forth that once you take into the account the full costs associated with research, development, mining, operation and maintenance and finally the recycling of the hybrid car the total amount of energy consumed is greater than that of a Hummer over each vehicle's usable lifetime.Needless to say, the report was widely quoted in the media. However, a rebuttal has since been published by Dr. Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute which points out some questionable methods. Two of the highlights in the Dust to Du

If you are one that loves being the first to try out new trends, then you should certainly consider looking at a hybrid vehicle. Hybrids are the newest in vehicle technology and one of the hottest items on the market. They are so popular that many manufacturers have very extensive waiting lists. Dealers were running out of hybrids and couldn’t get their orders filled fast enough so several companies even stopped all other deliveries until the dealer orders were filled. The hybrid is the new accessory that many cannot wait to get their hands on. Many may question why the hybrid is the hottest thing in the automobile market right now. The fact is that there are several reasons consumers are running toward these innovative vehicles. The most popular reason people are trying out hybr

Condo-hotels, or condotels as some call them, aren't regulated by the Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums & Mobile Homes even though the state leads the nation in the number of condo-hotel units."It's a mess," said Raphan, an assistant ombudsman for the state agency.Raphan's view mirrors that of many who watched the novel craze begin and crash almost as quickly.

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Sales of new General Motors hybrids, including its touted full-sized SUVs, are taking off at a crawl.GM sold 843 hybrids in the first quarter--655 of them the Two Mode hybrid versions of its full-sized Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs. The rest are mild hybrids: the Saturn Aura Green Line, Saturn Vue Green Line and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.Sales are slow because the Malibu Hybrid and the Two Mode SUVs are just entering the market, says a GM spokesman. "We talked about a model-year volume of 8,000 to 12,000 for the Tahoe and Yukon, and that hasn't changed," says GM spokesman Brian Corbett. "Generally hybrid vehicle sales tend to be a little slower initially compared to regular vehicles. We're expected to increase sales as awareness increases."GM has been advertising the Tahoe and Yukon Two

Yesterday at its Financial Analyst Day conference, officials from Nvidia talked for quite a while (about six hours) about the firm's position in the market. They addressed, at some length, how Nvidia plans to counter the AMD and Intel CPU-GPU hybrids and Intel's upcoming Larrabee graphics processor. Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang was quite vocal on those fronts, arguing hybrid chips that mix microprocessor and graphics processor cores will be no different from systems that include Intel or AMD integrated graphics today.According to Huang, development cycles for processors are longer, and customers will continue to find value in pairing integrated or discrete Nvidia graphics with a processor that already includes a graphics core. Besides, Huang believes Intel's promise of ten-times-greater integ

Only a few days after Toyota announced it would bring Prius hybrid to Korean market, Hyundai-Kia’s Chairman, Mr. Chung Mong-koo, revealed some facts about the company’s current hybrid car development and future plans. The announcement was made during his visit of Kia Motor’s factory in Gwangju, a Hyundai spokesman said. Although the auto giant’s plans to [...]

A small group of individuals and some small, specialized companies [see CalCars poster in right hand column] have been gaining increasing public visibility in their push to entice major auto manufacturers to begin producing plug-in hybrid electric vehicles [PHEV]. More recently some very large corporate entities have joined the chorus, Southern California Edison will be using Ford Escape vehicles and even PE&G will see power sold back from one Google test fleet vehicles. In contrast, the major automobile manufactures stumbled unintentionally into the spot light.

A small group of individuals and some small, specialized companies [see CalCars poster in right hand column] have been gaining increasing public visibility in their push to entice major auto manufacturers to begin producing plug-in hybrid electric vehicles [PHEV]. More recently some very large corporate entities have joined the chorus, Southern California Edison will be using Ford Escape vehicles and even PE&G will see power sold back from one Google test fleet vehicles. In contrast, the major automobile manufactures stumbled unintentionally into the spot light.

So you're in the market for a hybrid car and think all hybrids are the same? Better think again as there are a number of different types of hybrid vehicles available and even more on the way. Buyers need to be informed and realize that hybrid vehicles can be drastically different in terms of both technology and the hit to your checkbook. In the following article I will breakdown the different technologies available and help you determine what is best for you.Full HybridsAt this point most people would agree that these are the best types of hybrids currently available. They operate using two separate propulsions systems, the internal combustion engine and the electric motor which can work independently of each other. Under certain driving conditions, typically low speed, the car can operate

Source: Hypebeast First came the Dub Zero. Second, the Spiz’ike. A third time is no surprise from Jordan Brand. The latest hybrid from the Jordan camp is the 6 Rings model. This shoe is a... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Hyundai-Kia Chairman Chung Mong Koo said last Friday, while showing South Korean President Lee Myung Bak around the Kia facility, that Hyundai will start production of its first hybrid car by 2009. Further plans are to produce a small fleet of electric cars starting 2012.Mr. chung said: "The importance of developing futuristic, environmentally-friendly cars is increasing for sustainable growth. Therefore, technology for advanced cars, like the hybrid, is imperative.”Hyundai has set out a plan to achieve this target, first to develop the technology, create a mass production system and expand the model line-up. The first car to receive the hybrid treatment is the compact Elantra (Avante) LPI (Liqufied Petroleum Injection), the Elantra LPI Hybrid will run on both Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LP

IMAGE: The little colt above with its parents is the result of an interbreeding between a Shetland pony and a zebra. The image at right illustrates the native California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense), barred tiger salamanders (A. tigrinum mavortium), and the hybrids produced when the two species interbreed. Image by Bruce Delgado/U.S. Bureau of Land Management.Hybrids often occur in captivity but are more rare in Nature. However, hybrids in nature are sometimes the result of anthropogenic activity. A good example is hybridization between the endangered California tiger salamanders (A. californiense) and the introduced barred tiger salamanders (A. tigrinum mavortium). The barred tiger salamander was introduced in California from Texas. Both species are from the same genus A

Plug-in hybrids get far better mileage than standard cars or regular hybrids — and emit far less pollution. But they are also tough to justify economically at the moment with existing technology, according to the first several months of data from RechargeIT.org, which is studying how well plug-in hybrids work in real-world circumstances. Read the full story here

Four out of five General Motors vehicles sold in the United States will have to be hybrids by 2020, according to Bob Lutz, the company’s product guru. Speaking at the New York Auto Show, Lutz said, "Ultimately by 2020 we figure that 80 percent of vehicles will require some sort of hybridization," because of new U.S. fuel- economy standards. "We cannot get to 35 miles per gallon with anything resembling the current product portfolio with anything resembling current technology."In a Bloomberg News report yesterday, Lutz targeted the percentage of hybrid sales to approximately 30 percent by 2015. “Around 2015 we're going to have to sell a ton of hybrids whether people want them or not." He added, “It's basically going to result in the quasi-disappearance of V-8 engines."Lutz comments ec

By Joe Wiesenfelder Hybrid rankings have often been simplistic: Most are little more than lists of the highest-mileage models on the market. Here, we ranked hybrids based on how much fuel savings they get when compared to their non-hybrid version, as well as how much all that saved gas is going to cost you. Examinations that compare hybrids to “comparably equipped” versions miss an important point. Hybrids are almost always among the most expensive trim levels, if not the most costly, but our premise is that you’re looking for efficiency first, followed closely by price. This isn’t about acceleration, so the hybrids are compared to the lowest-priced, most-efficient gas-only trim level in their model line. Our rankings take into account the hybrid’s mileage

Summary: "Detroit may be the lay surpassingly closely associated with the manufacturing of cars and trucks, but for futuristic automotive design, all roads would seem to begin to Los Angeles. And not convenient for U.S. automakers. The more useful LA place has biased design studios from a worldwide lineup of big-name companies, including BMW (Newbury Park), General Motors (North Hollywood), Honda (Torrance and Pasadena), Hyundai (La Jolla), Toyota (Newport Beach), Volkswagen (Santa Monica) and Volvo (Camarillo).For this year's Design Los Angeles automotive form conference, nine of those studios took a lick at environmental awareness--from the usage the iced materials for the disputable vehicles would be gathered to the form those vehicles enact around town."Take a glance at all nine design

Summary: the growing popularity of "The vehicle-activated hybrid gasoline-electric brought safety worries some emergency responders, firefighters, and potential buyers to the new technology. But these vehicles are no greater threat broken any other car, according to manufacturers and experts in security. hybrids went first sold seven years ago America-beginning with the 2000 Honda Insight-but fears of the potential dangers associated with high system tension have inspired a recent spate of news stories and filled with fuel discussions online bulletin-board. Interested groups focused on the potential hazards associated with the systems used to operate vehicles, questioning the risks that electrical components could pose in the event of an accident. " ; 240,000 Toyota hybrids were sold, and

BY JENS MEINERS Mercedes-Benz performance brand AMG shows its environmental side. Mercedes’s AMG performance division wants to offer guiltless pleasure for those who love performance cars but are tired of being criticized for a lack of commitment to save the planet. On the eve of the 2008 Geneva auto show, AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg boldly announced that the [...]

BY JENS MEINERS Mercedes-Benz performance brand AMG shows its environmental side. Mercedes’s AMG performance division wants to offer guiltless pleasure for those who love performance cars but are tired of being criticized for a lack of commitment to save the planet. On the eve of the 2008 Geneva auto show, AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg boldly announced that the [...]

General Motors doesn’t want to miss the hype train. It too has now announced that it will have an entire fleet of hybrids. Ok, it didn’t. But, GM will have 16 hybrid models on the market by 2012, CEO Rick Wagoner told reporters at the Geneva Motor Show.The models will be powered by two different hybrid systems. One is designed for the rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive vehicles (Chevy Tahoe). The other is for the front-wheel-drive vehicles (Saturn Vue).Wagoner said that GM plans to introduce one hybrid model, on average, every four months until 2012. GM currently offers four hybrid models – the Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Malibu, Saturn Vue, and Saturn Aura.source

Summary: For more than 100 years, the electric car was the car of tomorrow, but never the car today. Why? The new documentary, "Who killed the Car?" Electrical; offers a fascinating attempt to answer this question, but falls victim to the usual radical deplores this public secondary track. The truth "inconvenient; is that the electric car will never replace the family sedan. Those who continue to put electric cars on a pedestal hunt a utopian dream when a promising solution is now close: "plug-in hybrid" car, which is recharged at home as an electric car, but also leverages the power of a gasoline engine.

Senator Carr held a day-long series of meetings with Toyota's executives in Tokyo, while a review of automotive manufacturing in Australia works to prepare an interim report on the future of the industry by the end of this month. The Rudd Government has committed to spend $500 million on a green car fund, which could be used to convince Toyota to produce hybrid cars in Australia. Toyota produces its petrol-engined Camry and Aurion vehicles in Victoria, at Altona. A spokeswoman for Senator Carr said the meetings were "very productive discussions". "He has reinforced the federal Government's enthusiasm for the motor vehicle industry," shesaid.

This is a selection of recent popular blog artciles aggregated on Greenedia.com, where you will find the best blogs from the world of green media, as well as video uploads, podcasts, and blog authoring. Coal Prices Open The Door To Biomass Looking toward the possible rise of biomass as an energy source, BioPact Blog points out that coal prices could conceivably double in the next two years. A variety of pressures on the supply of coal, including limits on production in Indonesia and Australia, and spiraling demand in China and India, are consiring to drive prices up, perhaps much more rapidly than the market is ready to absorb. The market already received a shock, in fact, when rumors circulated that an Asian steel company paid well above market value for coal. BioPact goes on to sugge

Researchers yesterday got the go ahead to carry out research to produce 99.9% Human, and 0.01% Cow Embryos. This hybrid embryo will be used to carry out experiments which are intended to extend our knowledge into diseases such as Parkinson’s and Spinal Muscular Atrophy by producing stem cells containing genetic defects that contribute to these conditions.Well how is it done? I could try to explain it to you but that wouldn't really help as i would be vaig as i am not that educated in this topic. So I'll let the gentle folk down at the BBC explain. Just click the HERE to learn how.This all is obviously great news but some very wierd and nonsensical people have an objection to the magnificant step forward in the world of science. These people think it is unethical to tamper with nature and

South Park parodied hybrid car owners creating clouds of 'smug', but do they really have anything to be smug about? In the battle against man-made global warming and reducing pollution ethanol powered cars, not hybrids, are touted the way to go and politicians and the environmentally conscious alike are jumping on the bandwagon.There is no doubt that ethanol burns far more cleanly than diesel or petrol - we could radically reduce the pollutants in our atmosphere by switching. Or can we? You see, to create ethanol, crops need to be grown. Because ethanol is not as potent as petrol, more ethanol is burned per kilometre. It takes between 75-90% of the energy yielded from ethanol to actually grow it - ploughing, harvesting, processing and shipping all add up - and ethanol still releases a lot of carbon dioxide. Then there's the environmental destruction caused by the conversion of land to biofuel production. This either takes forests or fallow land, or removes land from the general agri

Honda Cars is planning to build a new plant in western Japan to increase its capacity to produce key components for honda hybrid vehicles. The plant is expected to start operations in 2008. The plant, once fully operational, will allow the car manufacturer giant to quadruple its current honda hybrid vehicles production level. Last year, honda sold about 50,000 of its hybrid vehicles. Best sellers are the Civic and Accord models. The move of the Japanese owned car manufacturing to expand production was partly, due to the overwhelming acceptance of honda hybrid vehicles in the US market. The fully redesigned 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid for instance, was awarded the World Car of the Year Award for greenest car. A 46-man jury composed of international automotive journalists paved the way for the award. The 2006 Civic Hybrid, which achieves an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 49/51 miles per gallon, was chosen t be the holder of the 2006 World Green Car Award. The Civic Hybrid 2006

Gas prices all over the world have been soaring for years, giving drivers no other option than to pay the high prices. With more people driving vehicles that require more gas on a weekly basis, the rise in prices in being felt financially. Although experts agree that the rise in gas prices are not significant enough to deter consumers from driving their big trucks and sports utility vehicles, the thrifty spender may see things differently. A popular option for those looking for a cheaper way to travel is the hybrid car. The hybrid car is something of mixed origin or composition by definition. A hybrid vehicle is one that has both a gasoline engine and an electric engine in which it operates upon. The gasoline engine is often smaller than in regular vehicles, allowing the electric motor to compensate with energy. A high-voltage battery charges the electric motor when the car is parked. Today’s hybrid cars can operate using either engine or both at the same time. This efficient system

Caladium hortulanum hybrids send up long, fleshy stalks bearing the paper-thin, heart-shaped leaves. The variety of leaf colors and patterns is immense - besides green leaves with red veining, white and cream leaves veined with pink or green are also available. These plants are highly ornamental, especially if different leaf colors are grouped together. Mini-climate Warm, shady. Size The

These plants flower for most of the year. The large, roselike flowers range in color from deep red, through pink to yellow and white, They are best treated as annuals and discarded when flowering has finished. The foliage is usually pale green but plants with deep-red foliage are sometimes available. As their flowers are quite large they can be displayed as specimen plants or grouped together in

The exotic flower heads consist of a bright scarlet bract encircling a tail-like flower spike. They last for several weeks and can appear at any time between February and July. When in flower, several plants grouped together make an attractive display; when not in flower, the leaves harmonize with those of other tropical plants suitable for shady spots. Mini-climate Warm, shady. Size Small

Toyota Motor Corp’s Lexus, the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S., is planning to build more high-performance gas-electric hybrid models to reach newer customers, who want some sporty vehicles while being environmentally friendly. Lexus may build such gasoline-electric models to reach “enthusiast groups” outside its core market, General Manager Jim Farley of Lexus said this week. More-powerful Lexus hybrid models may help Toyota extend its hybrid dominance in the United States, with 78 percent of the market. The world’s biggest maker of hybrids helped boost 2007 U.S. sales of the vehicles by 44 percent through August, based on data from Bloomberg and Autodata Corp. Lexus sells about 20,000 hybrids annually in the United States, including the RX 400h SUV as the image below.   “There is a huge opportunity for a luxury-car company to be seen as a solution provider in terms of getting away from carbon pollution and heavy reliance on oil,” said Farley,

It’s becoming more necessary than innovative or trendy for car makers to release hybrid vehicles of their top sellers, and in the next few years, it’s likely that even more hybrid models will be available. Even BMW uses some hybrid technology, though they don’t call it that, or market it as such. So what are the top five hybrids currently available? Here’s our list: Toyota Prius - it accounts for half of all hybrids sold, even though it wasn’t first on the market (Honda has that honor). It’s also the most aerodynamic of all the hybrids, with only a 0.26 drag co-efficient. Fuel efficiency: 55 mpg (combined). Honda Civic Hybrid - the Prius’s closest runner up, the Honda is smaller, and not as comfortable inside, or as aerodynamically designed. Still, it averages 50 mpg. Nissan Altima Hybrid - its only available in eight states right now, which is too bad because not only does it get a respectable 39 mpg, it’s also got a 20-gallon gas tan

If like so many other you was thinking of purchasing a hybrid vehicle like the Honda Civic, consumers will be taking a hard look at weighing up if it is now worth all that extra expense, especially when tax credits on hybrids are about to expire and the fact that the price of gallon of gas has now gone down 23 cents. But Hybrid cars are still a good option, ok so you might not get as much tax back when you file your tax returns. However when you see that in only a few days many hurricanes have formed, it only takes one of them to hit an oil refinery and you will see the price of your gas rise that is when you wish that you were driving around in your Honda Civic hybrid. Written by Peter for Product ReviewsIn Sections: Autos, Environment, Hybrid Cars

Paris Hilton attends an anniversary party for BPM Magazine and talks about her hybrid vehicle, which she arrived in to the party. She also talks about how if everyone does a little bit for the environment, it can make a big difference. I’m not a big fan of Paris (who is) i think she is just jumping on a bandwagon, but atleast it’s a green one. Paris Hilton & Ron Jeremy Go Green Also on the video is porn star Ron Jeremy, who talks about how he has been donating to GreenPeace for years, and also he says, that although he does not have a hybrid, he plans on buying one. He is still making headlines for his generosity. Source [Ecorazzi] alternative energy, Celebrity, earth friendly, Eco Friendly, Fuel Efficient, paris hilton, Video Clips

Gas prices all over the world have been soaring for years, giving drivers no other option than to pay the high prices. With more people driving vehicles that require more gas on a weekly basis, the rise in prices in being felt financially. Although experts agree that the rise in gas prices are not significant enough to deter consumers from driving their big trucks and sports utility vehicles, the thrifty spender may see things differently. A popular option for those looking for a cheaper way to travel is the hybrid car. The hybrid car is something of mixed origin or composition by definition. A hybrid vehicle is one that has both a gasoline engine and an electric engine in which it operates upon. The gasoline engine is often smaller than in regular vehicles, allowing the electric motor to compensate with energy. A high-voltage battery charges the electric motor when the car is parked. Today’s hybrid cars can operate using either engine or both at the same time. This efficien

Animal hybrids that I guess we will ever see in real life! They are rather cool actually. (Thanks Amy for e-mailing the pictures!) (more…) If you liked this post, you will love these!Man Survives Bobcat Attack by Choking Animal to DeathPepsi Ice CucumberCool Chilled Mars AdIf you liked this post, buy me a beer!Share This

Hybrids not only perform above average on mileage (the Honda insight can reach above sixty mpg) but reduce their gas emissions and air pollution considerably. Toyota Prius, for example has a 90% reduction in the amount of pollution that would otherwise be in the air. And although this is not perfect it has improved the current standard considerablyAbout one third of air pollution is caused by the fuel used in cars. The major culprit is the carbon dioxide which causes global warming. Compared to regular cars, the Toyota Prius reduces the amount of carbon dioxide by fifty percent. And the hybrid made by Honda has reduced its emissions by two thirds. Nitrogen oxide, a chemical found in car emissions, not only causes global warming, but will cause acid rain and lung irritations. Hydrocarbons is another substance found in gas emissions from a car and this can cause birth defects or lung cancer. Lead is also released in the air as is carbon monoxide every time the car is in motion. Imagine s

Plug-in hybrids are regular hybrids with an extension cord. You can opt to use "electric" fuel at a cost equivalent to under $1/gallon. It's cheaper, cleaner and domestic, and you'll only have to go to the gas station a few times a year.Strangely enough plug-ins are not out on the market yet. What are the auto companies waiting for? Conversions of regular hybrids can be done though. See how.

DEARBORN, June 13, 2007 (FCN) -- The first E85 Escape Hybrids have hit the nation's streets as Ford delivered three vehicles to the Department of Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Governor's Ethanol Coalition (GEC).A total of 20 E85 Escape Hybrids will be delivered to select fleet customers in six states.E85 Escape Hybrids combine hybrid and flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) technology. An electric motor powers the vehicle at low speeds and a gasoline internal combustion capable of running on fuel blends up to 85 percent ethanol kicks in a higher speeds."As a leader in both hybrid vehicles and in vehicles capable of operating on ethanol-based fuels, Ford is the ideal company to bring both technologies together for the first time," said Sue Cischke, Ford's senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering."The Governors' Ethanol Coalition has worked cooperatively with Ford for more than two decades," said Nebraska Governor and Coalition Chair Dave H

New EPA fuel efficiency standards implemented in May are expected to drop car mileage estimates across the board, with hybrids suffering more than most.According to a May article in Wired online, "The two top-selling hybrid vehicles, the Prius and Honda's Civic Hybrid, will lose 12 and 11 miles per gallon respectively from their city driving estimates. Other vehicles are downgraded between 2 and 4 mpg."After years of overestimating gas mileage, "the new EPA tests factor in real-world conditions such as speeding, varying weather and lead-footed driving. Vehicles like hybrids with smaller engines pay a higher penalty during the acceleration test, as well as the tests that simulate going up a hill and maintaining highway speeds."Two steps forward, one step back. The onus is on the manufacturers to get consumers the type of performance they've been expecting from hybrids. While EPA estimates are not their responsibility, truth in advertising is. Once you've lost the consumer's trust it

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Co. is planning to expand its range of hybrid vehicles beyond the Ford Escape but sees deep-seated engineering problems facing the launch of a new generation of rechargeable electric cars, an executive said on Tuesday.Nancy Gioia, who heads Ford hybrid and "sustainable" vehicle programs, said the automaker planned to offer more full hybrids -- beyond theFord Escape SUV and its more upscale version, the Mercury Mariner.Ford has "more full hybrids coming," Gioia told a conference in Ann Arbor, Mich., on emerging auto engine technologies monitored by Web cast.The comments were the first indication of Ford's plans for hybrid vehicle development since April, when CEO Alan Mulally named an executive to a newly created position to oversee environmental issues at the struggling automaker.Ford became the first American carmaker to introduce ahybrid vehicle when it released the Escape SUV in 2004.Faced with declining U.S. market share, the automaker later backed

IKEA UK, like so many othercompanies, has a policy in place to reduce CO2 emissions and be an all around greener company. One way they're doing this is shifting to a fleet with nothing but hybrids, and the lucky car company to get all those orders is Honda.Specifically, IKEA UK will use only Civic hybrids for its fleet vehicles. Fifty are on the way this year, and more in 2008. I'm not sure which cars will get the boot to make room for the Civics.John Kingston, Environment Manager at Honda (UK) said in a statement that, "Civic Hybrid is really taking off in the corporate sector where businesses want to be seen to be green. IKEA's commitment to replace its entire fleet with Civic Hybrids is a real-life endorsement of the car and the excellent benefits it offers. In terms of cost, fuel efficiency and low emission driving the Civic Hybrid really stacks up."[Source: Honda, also tipped by Linton and Hugg]Recent Posts:+ Peugeot 308 Hatch: Diesel Plus Hybrid Equals 70+mpg+ Hyundai Accent H

Phenology of E. globulus and E. nitens in Galicia (Northwestern Spain)We have already seen some previous example of eucalypts blooming. Today we will see some more!Examples of flower buds, blooms and infrutescences in Eucalyptus nitens growing in Galicia (NW Spain)Widely introduced into commercial scale plantings in Galicia as a frost hardy alternative to E. globulus of the inland tablelands and ranges, E. nitens most commonly appears at altitudes between 400 and 900 m, growing in a variety of soil types and site conditions.Its fast growth, small flower size (clusters around 1 cm), relatively delayed maturation age compared to other species and loss of basal branches when planted in timber stands can make spotting its blooms a difficult task without using binoculars. We have observed it blooming from late April well into July, but some variation in these phenologic ranges can happen every year depending on climatic tendences and some variation does occur also at different altitudes.Ex

Phenology of E. globulus and E. nitens in Galicia (Northwestern Spain)We have already seen some previous example of eucalypts blooming. Today we will see some more!Examples of flower buds, blooms and infrutescences in Eucalyptus nitens growing in Galicia (NW Spain)Widely introduced into commercial scale plantings in Galicia as a frost hardy alternative to E. globulus of the inland tablelands and ranges, E. nitens most commonly appears at altitudes between 400 and 900 m, growing in a variety of soil types and site conditions.Its fast growth, small flower size (clusters around 1 cm), relatively delayed maturation age compared to other species and loss of basal branches when planted in timber stands can make spotting its blooms a difficult task without using binoculars. We have observed it blooming from late April well into July, but some variation in these phenologic ranges can happen every year depending on climatic tendences and some variation does occur also at different altitudes.Ex

We already told you the news before that Mercedes is set announce a diesel hybrid version of the big S-Class sedan in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.It now appears that a gasoline hybrid will be sitting alongside it on the stand under the three-pointed star. At the Frankfurt show in 2005, Mercedes also showed both gas and diesel hybrid versions of the S-Class but didn't provide much detail aside from the electric motor being integrated into the drive-train.This tends to point in the direction of a new application of the Two-Mode hybrid being developed by GM, DCX and BMW, although it may also be mild hybrid that Mercedes is developing just with BMW. Either way, it looks like Mercedes will not follow Lexus's lead by using the hybrid to enhance power like the LS600h. Instead, the gas hybrid will slot into the middle of the lineup mated to a 3.5L direct injected V-6. This will reportedly yield over 25mpg combined in the 4,500lb S-Class.[Source: AutoCar (subs req'd)] Recent Posts:

DaimlerChrysler has announced plans to launch a gasoline-electric hybrid for the 2008 model year. According to DaimlerChrysler Board Member Dr. Thomas Weber, the company will commercialize an S-class mild hybrid; further mild-hybrid models are in development for subsequent years. Mild hybrid engines, like the one in use in Honda's Accord hybrid, provide electric-powered assistance to the gasoline engine; full hybrids, like Toyota's Prius, alternate between their gasoline or electric motors depending on driving conditions.DaimlerChrysler introduced both gasoline and diesel Mercedes mild-hybrid concept cars based on the S-Class at last year’s Frankfurt auto show. Between this and the news that an electric version of DaimlerChrysler's smart cars are on the way, things are looking a little greener at the German company, and that's a good thing.[Handelsblatt] (German) via [Green Car Congress]S350 Direct Hybrid:300 hp291 ft-lbs of torque7.5 sec to 62 mph155 mph top speed28.3 mpgS320 Bl

Hybrid fever strikes New York City Given the stop and go nature of traffic in New York City, the promise of increased fuel efficiency from hybrids is too good to pass up. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday on the "Today" show that every yellow cab will be a hybrid by the year 2012. There are roughly 13,000 taxis roaming city streets (90 percent of which are gas guzzling Ford Crown Victorias). According to Bloomberg, 20 percent of the existing yellow cab fleet will be replaced each year until all are running on hybrid power. Currently, there are only 375 hybrid taxis on the road in NYC. "There's an awful lot of taxicabs on the streets of New York City obviously, so it makes a real big difference," said Bloomberg. "These cars just sit there in traffic sometimes, belching fumes; this does a lot less. It's a lot better for all of us." There are currently eight vehicles on the city's "approved" list when it comes to hybrid vehicles to be used as yellow cabs: th

That's right. Michael Bloomberg, the current mayor of New York City, announced plans of replacing the current taxi fleet of 13,000 into hybrids by 2012. The plan takes effective immediately as the current hybrid cab fleet of 400 will be increased to 1000 by October of 2008. The current hybrid fleet consists of mostly the Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Saturn Vue Green Line.The plan also announced that by October 2008, all taxi cabs would have to have minimum fuel consumption of 25mpg. By 2009, it will be increased to 30mpg. The popular Ford Crown Victoria taxi cab only gets 15mpg by the 2008 EPA standards, whereas the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid serves up 34mpg. Since all taxi cabs in NYC will suffer major traffic congestion and slow cruising speeds, emissions would drastically decrease and mileage will increase. The reason being that a hybrid motor stays all-electric in low speeds, something which NYC cabs will face commonly.[Source: Kicking Tires]

Nissan plans to "add lightness" by using Li-ion instead of NiMHCurrent hybrid vehicles on the road today run on nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries. Nissan and NEC plan to buck the trend and adapt lithium-ion battery technology into upcoming hybrid vehicles."Together Nissan and NEC's engineers have addressed the key challenges of cost, performance, safety and reliability. We believe that we have a breakthrough technology: the lithium-ion battery produce we will produce," Nissan executive vice-president Carlos Tavares said.Lithium-ion batteries are generally regarded as superior to nickel-metal hydride for higher capacities in smaller form factors. This will enable automakers to implement hybrid technology power source into a smaller and lighter package. Furthermore, weight savings afforded by lithium-ion technology will positively affect nearly all aspects of the vehicle’s characteristics."Co-development with Nissan has enabled a superior-class battery that we expect to spre

BMW is considering offering hybrid versions of its 5-Series sedan and X5 crossover in 2010, according to a new report by Britain's Autocar citing a BMW engineering source. Unlike most hybrids, the vehicles would run on a combination of diesel and electricity, rather than the typical gasoline-electric configuration.But BMW will only go ahead with the plan if it can succeed in making these diesel hybrids more efficient and cost effective than regular diesels. BMW will only market hybrids that prove to be "more economical in the real world than a diesel car," a senior engineer said.[Source: LeftLaneNews]Continued- ArticleBMW has been working with DaimlerChrysler and GM on rear-wheel-drive hybrid technology that could be applied to a wide range of models.The BMW source admitted there's still a ways to go before hybrids trump diesels. "Hybrid cars are very good for slow and stop-start driving but not so good at higher speeds. Overall, our diesel vehicles are still more economical," the so

DaimlerChrysler is taking some of its eggs out of the diesel BLUETEC basket and placing them on the hybrid bandwagon, according to chairman Dieter Zetsche. The automotive giant had been banking on the success of its clean diesel technology to win over the green crowd, but DCX says the market demands hybrids. And so hybrids they shall make.[Source: Autoblog via Edmunds: Insideline]Continued- ArticleAt first Mercedes will offer "mild hybrids", essentially an overgrown starter motor that will supplement the gasoline (or diesel) engine to add extra power while improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. With a mild hybrid, DCX figures it can get 70 percent of the effect with 30 percent of the effort, but will eventually produce full hybrid powerplants. DaimlerChrysler plans on collaborating on its hybrid development with rivals BMW, not unlike the sharing of technology over BLUETEC, all in an effort to catch up with their mutual rival Toyota, which has harnessed hybrid power on its way

Saab is currently developing its first hybrid model based on technology gained from parent company General Motors. Speaking with Reuters at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, Saab’s Managing Director Jan Ake Jonsson told reporters that the decision will allow it to reduce development costs thanks to parts sharing with other models within the GM family.[Source: Motor Authority]Continued- ArticleGM partnered with DaimlerChrysler and BMW to co-develop the new hybrid technology, which are also developing hybrid vehicles of their own. Mercedes-Benz revealed on Tuesday that it will be releasing a hybrid car by 2009, while BMW made the statement that it would start production of its own hybrid in two years time. Jonsson wasn’t willing to give a launch date for the new Saab hybrid but said that it was just one avenue of green technology that it was currently investigating. Saab also used the Geneva event to showcase its new enviro-friendly 9-5 SportCombi sedan powered by a 300hp turbocharged

While GM may have come late to the hybrid party, they're storming onto the scene with the announcement of dual-mode and plug-in hybrid vehicles for 2008 and 2009. General Motors' Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid SUV was unveiled at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show today, fully equipped with some innovations that could make GM a serious hybrid contender in the near future. The Vue Green Line, which will debut in 2008, will pack a punch with a standard 3.6 liter V6 while also improving fuel efficiency as much as 45 percent with a unique dual-mode hybrid system. The dual-mode hybrids will include direct injection and variable valve timing, a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and two active cooled permanent magnet motors. Said Tom Stevens, GM's group president of its powertrains division:This will be the auto industry's first front-wheel-drive vehicle to use a 2-mode hybrid system, which improves fuel economy while maintaining performance and capability. The dual modes in question all

Honda is recalling 43,335 Civic hybrids for a possible voltage converter problem. The problem vehicles, which were manufactured between September 2005 and September 2006, could have engine failure if the voltage converter causes a short circuit. Owners of the recalled vehicles here in the United States, which consist of most of the volume, will be notified by mail. There have been no reported accidents as a result of this problem. Honda also announced a Japan-market recall of 72,597 Elysion minivans due to defective sliding door locks. [Source: Autoblog via Business Week]

In this corner, the sleek new Civic Hybrid. In the other corner, the iconic Toyota Prius. Which one is for you? Check out the Seattle Times comparison review of these two heavy weights on nwautos.com Also take a look at their new fuel economy guide. Which lists the top fuel efficient cars and trucks. Full disclosure: I work for nwautos.com so of course I want to give them props for moving in a

"There's a plug mounted in the bumper. When I'm on the road and I take the car to a hotel, I drive around the parking lot looking for a Coke machine. When I find one, I park close to it, so I can plug in. Then it takes six to eight hours to charge." Ladies and gentlemen, the plug-in hybrid has arrived (along with warm sodas and pissed-off Coca Cola reps). The San Francisco Chronicle reports that wealthy Prius owners are paying a Bay Area company called Hybrids Plus to convert their gas - nickel hydride-powered sedan into a lithium-ion battery-powered plug-in. The cost, including the car and an optional range extension pack: $60k. Despite concerns about fire safety, the conversion process appears to be legal. California Air Resources Board spokeswoman Karen Caesar: "We are not encouraging people to disassemble their Prii to turn them into plug-ins."

SG Gate columnist Arrol Gellner reckons as goeth San Francisco, so goeth America. Opposing the Vietnam War, spearheading ecological concerns, mandating energy-efficient buildings, banning smoking in public places, demanding equal access for the disabled and now, hybrid vehicles. Where would the United States be without "Berkeley radical thinking?" Gellner's self-congratulatory diatribe claims the large number of hybrids humming about Berkley signal "the beginning of the end for conventional internal-combustion-powered vehicles." Ignoring Ford and Chrysler entirely, Gellner says Detroit missed this boat "thanks to the monumental stupidity, shortsightedness and greed of General Motors executives, who preferred to wallow in the lucrative SUV trough while foreign competitors did their homework. Maybe those GM folks should've gotten out of the boardroom now and then, and taken a drive around Berkeley." Bong optional?

Davisenterprise.com is reporting a strange (if entirely theoretical) wrinkle in the potential for plug-in electric hybrids: power generation. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is "readying a program" whereby the utility company could draw power from plug-in hybrids plugged into the power grid. The first suggestion: if the cars were equipped with solar panels they could sell power back to the power company. OK, right, second idea: tap into the connected cars to smooth-out power generation during spikes in demand. Kyle Aarons, project manager in PG&E's Clean Air Transportation Department (doesn't it do that by itself?) explains: "Let's say a bunch of people switch on their lights all at once and so demand for electricity spikes up in a very short amount of time. Instead of having one of our power plants ramp up a little bit or opening the gate a little bit more on a dam, we can maybe use energy from (the cars') batteries to just, sort of, meet that little sp

Visitors to Ft. Collins Colorado don't have any problem finding the massive WWV shortwave antenna array that broadcasts the time from the government's famous atomic clock. In town, locating a hybrid on a car dealer’s lot ain't so easy. The Coloradoan reports that local hybrid sales are high. Mark Pedersen of Pedersen Toyota pronounced them "extremely steady." Over at Markley Motors Honda store, used car manager Jaime Twito says Honda's hyrbids are usually sold before they arrive. "We take everything they give us... they're hard to keep on the ground." Things are a little tougher for Brad Laugel, inventory manager at Dellenbach Motors. While the Chevy dealer has no hybrids to sell, he’s expecting a few ‘08 gas - electric Malibus later this year. Changing the subject ever-so-slightly, Laugel says Ft. Collins is “a good market” for vehicles like the Silverado and Tahoe, which can run on E85. Fortunately, unlike most U.S. t